Editorials

Denver Post: Straight talk on Colorado health exchange and CEO bonus

The decision by the head of the Colorado health exchange to withdraw her request for a compensation increase was a wise one.

Patty Fontneau told us Friday the matter had become a "distraction," and she had withdrawn her bid for a 3 percent salary hike and bonus of up to 10 percent.

Even though Fontneau makes the case that Connect for Health Colorado is functioning well, the public perception of the exchange rollout is much different.

The fact is, the number of Coloradans who have bought health insurance through the exchange remains far below even the lowest projections. And it has been more than two months since it opened.

Were the projections too ambitious? Well, these estimates were made by health exchange staff and their consultants. This is not a bar that someone else set.

Given these facts, it's tough to argue that bonuses should be on the table, as Fontneau, the CEO and executive director, apparently realized.

Beyond the compensation issue, recent reports about the public relations strategies surrounding the exchange rollout also should raise eyebrows.

Solutions, a grant-funded publication of the University of Colorado Denver, obtained an e-mail that Fontneau sent on the eve of the rollout to exchange board members. In it, she advised them to "avoid" calls from the media.

"We strongly recommend you not engage in extended discussion — especially of the technology," the e-mail said.

It then listed a half-dozen "sample quotes," prompting board members to say things such as: "This is an exciting time for Colorado as we open the Connect for Health Colorado marketplace ... ."

And: "Coloradans will have a wide array of choices ... ."

Now, Fontneau told us she and the exchange staff had no reason to suspect they would have the technological problems that ensued after the Oct. 1 activation of the system.

"Our system was up and tested and ready to go," Fontneau said. "We didn't have problems."

Fontneau said her e-mail was an effort to ensure consistent information was disseminated about the exchange, especially on complex tech issues.

Perhaps so, but in the early going after launch of the system, Connect for Health did appear to minimize issues with signups in line with the upbeat messaging plan.

The consumer website is a central piece of the health care reform envisioned under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. And it involves significant public investment.

The public should have confidence that they're getting straight talk about the exchange's performance, not spin.

The coming months are critical for the exchange. Robust enrollment is important not only for the long-term financial viability of Connect for Health, but also to the success of the Affordable Care Act in Colorado.

Fontneau said new enrollment numbers, set to be released Monday, will show a sharp uptick in the number of those buying insurance through the site.

We hope so. And we hope the trend continues. If it doesn't, however, it's important to keep in mind that transparency will be essential in maintaining sufficient public trust to adapt successfully to the new reality.